The present invention relates to a data processing system method and, more particularly, to a system and method for manipulating CMOS parameters that are stored within a CMOS memory, via a user interface other than the conventional BIOS set up program. Embodiments of the present invention use a Root System Description Table Pointer as prescribed by the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface specification to read an operating system accessible table contained within conventional memory. The table stores access data to allow access to at least a subset of the BIOS CMOS parameters. Advantageously, since the access data for the CMOS parameters are stored within conventional memory, a user interface that is more sophisticated than a conventional BIOS set up program user interface can be used for manipulating those values. Still further, tokens are used to present a system independent way of representing the CMOS parameters to higher level programs. These tokens may remains constant regardless of underlying changes to the CMOS parameters.